The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-03-17
6TANDlNG ON THEIR HEADS,
An Amusing Incident In the French DE-
partInent of Public Instruction.


partInent of Public Instruction.
The classic anecdote of Cardinal Richie
lieu wing with courtier to see who could
kick the highest has just received a mod
ern Endorsement in an incident that oc-
Cured in the department of public in
struction. Among the employees of the
government in this department are a
couple of young men who dabble in liter
allure, one having published a volume of
poems and the other having produced one
OF two plays. They are lively young fell
lows and great friends. The pressure of
duty is no stronger on public officials in
France than it is in America, and they
find much time for the writing of their
ambitious illusions between whites as they
work. They also find time for u reason
able amount of rest and recreation. One
day they took it into their heads to try
athletic exercise to while away half an
hour. In moment both were Oh the
floor hard at work in that interesting
game pulling up" A walking stick
served for the piece de resistance, so to
speak. s.-rs,,s .sa-sssss,y,s. -as,zsz sa-ss-aa
After demonstrating that the poet could
pull up the dramatist every time, they
tried sitting down on one foot, the other
being kept of the floor during the whole
process of sinking and getting up again.
This was the dramatist's strong hold, and
the poet was nowhere 81 can stand on
my head longer than you can, anyway"
said the poet. ~ lay the price of lunch
you can't" retorted the dramatist. A
fellow employe was called in to umpire the
test. AS they were neither of them ex-
pert tumblers, they leaned themselves
against the wall. While they were in this
picturesque attitude who should come in
at the door but the minister of education!
A member of the cabinct-the head of the
department, find them in such position!
Horrors! The young man who held the
watch fled incontinently, but the two re-
versed contestants could not see who it
was that had entered, and did not bulge.
But they had no opportunity to move be-
fore the minister, taking in the situation
and its significance, exclaimed: "Remain
where you are, gentlemen. can beat you
both" Off came his coat, and, with,
folio of documents, was placed upon
chair, and In another instant he had stood
himself on his head near the two clerks
They recognized his voice, and in their as
Constituent came tumbling down The
minister, however, remained heels up
against the wall, perfectly imperturbable,
while the clerks looked at each other in
silent bewilderment and some terror.
Presently the ministerial body relaxed, the
heels came down and the head Of the de-
partment resumed his normal attitude.
ttYou see, gentlemen he said blandly,
] endured it longer than either of YOU"
The minister was red In the face from his
exercise and the clerks from their confu-
sion, but they knew enough not to mar
the effects of the scene by apologizing for
their conduct. That would have implied
that the head of the department had COM
mitted an error also, but after he had con-
tinued his way they took stern resolve
never, never to be caught mapping again
with their heels in the air during Office
hours, Paris Cor. Philadelphia Times.